Sally Mims Burnett

Sally Mims Burnett of Newport went on to greater glory on Wednesday, July 24, 2013, after a brief illness. She was born July 29, 1930, daughter of Anna Roe Driskill Mims and William Earnest Mims and sister to William E. (Bud) Mims, Jr., all of whom preceded her in death. She was also preceded in death by her husband, James H. (Jim) Burnett, Jr. and father-in-law and mother-in-law Horace and Anna (Stokely) Burnett. Born and reared in Newport, Sally graduated as salutatorian of the Cocke County High School Class of 1948. She then earned her bachelor's degree in Music Education from the University of Chattanooga in 1952. While in college, Sally was elected president of her sorority, Pi Beta Phi, during her senior year. She loved teaching piano and over several decades hundreds of school-aged boys and girls from Newport and the surrounding area took music lessons from her. She was a devoted and faithful member of First United Methodist Church of Newport, and for many years served as organist and directed the choir. Sally loved family history and devoted a great deal of time to the study of genealogy, tracing her family's roots back many generations. Serving as Registrar of the William Cocke Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR), she helped many others trace their ancestry as well. She traced her own back to nine Revolutionary War soldiers and also to several pioneers and patriots listed in First Families of Tennessee and Daughters of 1812. Sally loved to travel and visited 44 countries around the world. She enjoyed dining out with special friends on Friday nights and gossiping each Tuesday with her fellow members of the "Chicken Biscuit Club." She was an avid Tennessee Vols fan and enjoyed watching sports on television. She enjoyed playing bridge at the Community Center as long as her health permitted. Sally leaves behind her loving family: son, James H. Burnett, III, and daughter-in-law Betty Lou of Brentwood; daughter Anne Burnett Young and son-in-law Stephen of Knoxville; grandchildren Anna, Jimmy, and William Burnett and Rosemary Young; sisters-in-law Edith Burnett (Whitey) Grimes and Charlotte Jones Mims, and many nieces and nephews. Services will be held at First United Methodist Church of Newport on Saturday, July 27, 2013, at 4:00 p.m. The family will receive friends at the church prior to the services from 2:00-4:00 p.m. Interment in Union Cemetery will follow the service. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorials gifts be made to First United Methodist Church's Elevator Fund, 212 Washington Avenue, Newport, TN 37821. Family and friends may register online at www.manesfuneralhome.com. Manes Funeral Home is in charge.

Sally Mims Burnett

July 29, 1930 - July 24, 2013